Camicazi Cycling. 8 May 2014

Last night after playing  'in-door baseball' with a bunch of church kids I came home to get kitted up for my first training session since my car crash. Yippee! What better way to start training again than with a session of hill 'sprints' on the bike?  (Well, I can think of a lot of better ways, the first one being riding to the nearest costa for a restorative muffin and mocha)

Anyway, when I got home, I found Ross had pumped my tyres up and had all 3 bikes out ready for us to go.  This was a session that 3 team members were going to do.  Those three were Ross, Will. and me. Andy meanwhile was out running near his home.  It was nice to do some training with  the others. 

Ross mounted my Christmas present head torch on to the bike attachment and I put an old red light head torch around my waist to light up my rear and we were off.

It occurred to me as I rode along behind Ross that my legs were flying round manically and his were smoothly go at half the speed.  I was giving it my all, going up the hill towards our training spot and he was pootling along ahead of me.  He disappeared about 1/2 km ahead of me and reappeared going the other way having slung-shot the mini-roundabout.  He sailed passed me, all the way down the road and then came back up behind me.  It was then it occurred to me that I might be going a bit slowly and may be in some trouble!  I felt a bit depressed about it as I was really going for it. In my defence he is 6"2 and I am 5"3 and off course, I am coming back from injury.  I know that is no excuse.  I think it might help if I had a better bike, perhaps one with bigger wheels...

Anyway, I eventually caught up with him.  No that is not right,  to be honest, he waited for me and we crossed a main road together to enter the gravel track that runs parallel to the fence surrounding the military ranges near our home.

I felt really good going along that nice flat top track, like I hadn't had 2 weeks mostly prone, feeling sorry for myself feeling stiff and sore and as dizzy as if I was on a carousel all the time.  I even had time to notice a deer, it's antlers growing and which would, by the rutting season, be magnificent.  It was the last chance I had to pay any attention to the world around me until after the hill sprint session.

We came to the top of the hill that marks the beginning of the 1km sprint.  It is a stony and gravelly track that is quite slippery if you go on the wrong path.  I am always wary of this bit of the path and have a love-hate relationship with it.   There is a steep descent followed by a short flat and then a  long hill down to a cattle grid which has some wickedly deep stony bits just after it and then a sharp incline to a horribly steep hill that, in my mind, I call One Tree Hill because it has a lone tree standing, on the left hand side, almost at the top. At the top we turn around and reverse the process back up to the start point which is a sign on the fence that says, "Danger:  explosives"  Rather apt because I always feel a bit grumpy at the end of the slog back up that hill to the start point. And then we are meant to do it all again.

We met William who had gone a different route ,at the start point.  He had already completed his first split. By this point it was dark, but that was ok.  I was rather excited.  I had never ridden in the dark before, let alone off-road in the dark.   I don't have the best night-vision and I wear glasses but I was full of confidence.  I could do this and besides, I hadn't really thought through the dark part.  Launching myself off the top of that hill, going at break-neck speed in the dark, with only a tiny head torch to light my way  was one of the most hair-raising things I have ever done.


"There are two runners coming up the hill there, Mum." William yells over his shoulder as he disappears down the hill, to do his second sprint.  I catapult myself down.

You go from zero to crazy speed in no time flat on that hill.

As I whizz passed the two runners I hear them call something that sounds like a shout of encouragement, well I hope it is that and not a scream of terror.  I feel an involuntary whoop of joy explode from my mouth at the speed. And then,  I realise how fast I am going... in the dark... down a hill... on gravel.  I am pretty sure my heart's migrated from my chest to somewhere in my throat.  My glasses have literally steamed up - I don't know if it is hot breathe, or sweat but for what is only a few seconds but feels like an eternity I cannot see a thing. 

Oh help, I can't see a thing and I am flying down this hill on a barely controlled runaway bike!

Just as suddenly the cool night air clears them.

Standing up in my saddle to ease my behind, balanced on my peddles and gripping the handle bars determinedly, whilst my fingers reflexively twitch on the breaks, I bump rapidly down the first sharp slope.  This slope is fast and has a mixture of large stones and loose gravel that you have to hit just right so as not to slip.  I keep thinking, "if I fall there is only a thin layer of lycra between me and pain!"

The slope levels out with no reduction in speed until I hit the first puddle which is rapidly followed by a second.  These check my pace very slightly, due to their depth and the natural, speed resistant effect of the water.  I am rather happy about that! Muddy water splashes, unnoticed, up my shins.  There is the third puddle which I need to steer round on the left lip.  With a few minor twists, lots of slippery gravel, its down hill all the way to the cattle grid where the hill bottoms out into the valley floor.  A teeth rattling, helmet bobbing ride, at top speed, over the cattle grid and I am immediately changing gear from third to second front cog.  The very rocky surface straight after this slows me right down and I need to move through the gears to keep my momentum. The hill rears up in a sharp incline and I am pushing myself to keep going.  I haven't done this ride for a while and I forget to change down to first cog at exactly the right moment which causes me to slip slightly.

"Ah man!"  I shout as my foot goes down on the ground about 20 m from the top of the hill.  I'm on those pedals again straight away, straining to get myself up that hill.

"I can do this,"  I grit my teeth and slog it up to the top. As I pass the lone tree, I know I'm going to make it.  At the top  I turn around, slurp some water and immediately head back down the hill. The trick is to not put to much energy into pedalling down One Tree Hill, get the bike into second cog on the front and 4th on the back and free wheel down to that stony section before the cattle grid because if your hit it wrong, which I did on the second run, your back wheel slides out from under you and you get a case of the wobbles and heart in the mouth!  Bang across the cattle grid, sounds like a fork being dragged across a metal sink drainer.  And then that up that long slope that seems to go on forever.....

Slog
Slog
Slog

Thighs screaming, Lungs burning.  Why am I doing this?    I could be at home watching Master Chef, in my jammies.  Teeth gritted in determination.  Push myself, push myself.  Go.Go.Go.

And I go on, I feel sick but I am determined to get up this hill without stopping
 
The incline on the slope steepens with every push of the pedals. If I just get myself to the flatter bit, I can do this.  Keep on going round the first puddle then through the second and third puddles.  Slope horrendous now.  1 and 1 on the gears.  Stand up but keep your weight back to stop the back wheel slipping on the gravel and losing traction.  Where is that flippin' sign?

Puff
Pedal
Puff
Determination
Puff
Endure
Puff
Pedal. PEDAL!

I am going to make.  I am NOT going to get off and push my bike.  Closer. Closer.  Yes there is.  Phew. I stop.  My breath is coming in short gasps.  I concentrate on slowing my breathing, guzzle some water and then,  I'm off again, launching myself into the dark over the precipice, charging down the slopes and slogging up the hills. 

***

Will said he thought to himself as he passed me on one of the runs,  "If she doesn't open her eyes, she's going to crash."  I didn't have my eyes closed in terror I am sure...at least, I don't think I did!


I did two runs I would have gone for a third but Ross told me to stop and come back to fitness steadily, which is wise. I was actually only meant to go for a gentle cycle. Will did 5 and Ross 3, he had a blow out on his third run.

Ross walks his poorly bike home and I pedal back feeling very chuffed with myself.  I get home and feel a bit light headed when I get inside.  I ignore it and do a good post workout stretch and wipe the mud of my legs.  I  have a delicious  after workout snack of some mixed nuts and a yogurt coated fruit biscuit. The night is not yet finished... Tonight Will wants us to start our core and strength training exercises which I abandoned about 6 months ago.  He is a slave driver.  No quarter is given to his aged parents!  5 sit ups, 5 push ups (which is tough with a slightly weakened wrist from the car accident) and a 15 second plank.  The plank is a cynch.  I love it and was doing loads of them last year till I got lazy about them.  Time to get ready for bed, washing and teeth cleaning done, I snuggle down in bed with a cup of black tea and my marathon training magbook.  I am going to sleep well tonight.

I can't wait for the next session which is meant to be a brick session although I am going to enjoy my rest day first.... I earned it.